Superman
(Kingdom Come version)
Context
These notes are specifically about Superman as he appears in Kingdom Come. Published in 1996, Kingdom Come was a vision of a possible future of the DC Universe. This powerful story was quite influential, and several key DC writers considered that the DC Universe was indeed headed toward these events.
Powers and Abilities
As a result of his many years of absorbing yellow sun radiation, Superman’s powers have increased greatly by the time of Kingdom Come. He is no longer vulnerable to Kryptonite and has stored enough yellow sun radiation in his cells that he can function without it as well.
His strength and durability have increased and his sensory powers have sharpened with age as well. He is powerful enough to tunnel through the Earth in less than 5 seconds and durable enough to withstand a multi-megaton nuclear explosive AFTER going one on one with Captain Marvel. He truly is the paragon of all superheroes.
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History
This is Superman. You know the drill. Rocketed to Earth from the dying planet Krypton, world’s biggest boy scout, etc. etc.
Approximately 10 years before the events of Kingdom Come, Clark’s wife, Lois Lane, and the entire staff of the Daily Planet were murdered by the Joker. Although the Joker was apprehended, he was killed by Magog while being transferred to a new holding facility. In the subsequent murder trial, Magog was acquitted.
Unable to handle the loss of his closest friends and the apparent public approval of Magog’s vigilante brand of justice, Superman left. For 10 years, the Man of Steel was not seen in the world of the mortals.
Kingdom Come
It was the accidental destruction of Kansas by Magog’s Justice Battalion that brought Superman back into the world. He set about to form a new Justice League that would clean up this new breed of metahumans and rumblers that had taken over. The long and short of it is that he succeeded, and recovered a bit of himself that he had lost along the way.
Following the events of Kingdom Come, Superman became romantically involved with Wonder Woman, and they are expecting a child.
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The Kingdom
Some time after the events of Kingdom Come, Superman was killed by the being known as Gog, who had formerly been the founder and head priest of a church dedicated to the Man of Steel.
This may however have been in a different timeline from the events of Kingdom Come, as Clark is apparently very vulnerable to magic and other elements of The Kingdom storyline indicate this is not the KC world.
Description
This is Superman, in his traditional red and blue suit with cape. In Kingdom Come he has adopted a slightly darker, simpler suit more reminiscent of the Golden Age Superman (with black where there traditionally is yellow), but hey – at least it’s not blue and sparky !
Personality
Superman is still the world’s biggest boy scout, regardless of time period or Elseworld status. He will not kill, and will go out of his way to save the lives of others.
He inspires a sense of wonder in mere mortals and fellow superheroes alike. During the events of Kingdom Come he is a little uncertain of himself and will have trouble interacting with normal humans, but after the story he is well at ease with himself and others.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Superman
| Dex: 15 | Str: 26 | Body: 20 | Motivation: Upholding the Good |
| Int: 11 | Will: 19 | Mind: 15 | Occupation: Superhero |
| Inf: 12 | Aura: 20 | Spirit: 09 | Resources {or Wealth}: n/a |
| Init: 51 | HP: 200 |
Powers:
Directional Hearing: 08, Extended Hearing: 10, Flight: 18, Heat Vision: 17, Invulnerability: 22, Microscopic Vision: 15, Recall: 20, Sealed Systems: 15, Super Breath: 12, Super Hearing: 10, Superspeed: 11, Systemic Antidote: 18, Telescopic Vision: 24, Thermal Vision: 13, X-Ray Vision: 13
Skills:
Artist (Writer): 07, Charisma (Persuasion): 13 (15 after Kingdom Come).
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Metropolis), Expansive Headquarters (Fortress of Solitude), Leadership, Lightning Reflexes, Popularity, Scholar (Agriculture), Sharp Eye.
Connections:
Justice League (High), Wonder Woman (High), White House (High), Batman, United Nations: Low before KC, High after.
Drawbacks:
Authority Figure (during and after KC), Exile (self-imposed, before KC), Guilt (before KC), Secret Identity (until the end of KC only), Public Identity (after KC), Loss Vulnerability (Magic, Range: 0APs. Affects all attributes and powers. NOTE: This vulnerability may have been lost at the end of Kingdom Come according to the novelization.)
Helper(s): Robert Maple (ShadowKnight), Eric M. Padua, JD Marquart, Roy Cowan, Byron Molix, Paul Kownacki, Jeff O’Connor, Chris Gordon.
Source of Character: Kingdom Come.